Swimming holes, waterfalls, cool, high country hikes, bike rides, farmers’ markets, fly-fishing in ancient rivers, internationally acclaimed musicians playing live under a sunset sky, old time dances in one of the prettiest downtowns in the Western North Carolina mountains. What could be better than Brevard in summertime?
Summer is simply special here. Here’s a brief run-down of what’s happening in the warm months ahead. As a visitor, a resident, or a new homeowner, all you have to do is take your pick.
Outdoor Highlights:
- June 8th is National Get Outdoors Day at the Cradle of Forestry. Free!
- Appalachian Folkways Series, a reoccurring event, begins June 15th from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. at the Cradle of Forestry. More info available at cradleofforestry.com.
- We’re surrounded by public forest lands. Take a hike or hop on a mountain bike in Pisgah National Forest (www.fs.usda.gov), Dupont State Forest (www.dupontforest.com), or Gorges State Forest (ncparks.gov/gorges-state-park)
- Ready for a plunge? Head to Sliding Rock in Pisgah National Forest: a 60 foot long natural water slide with a 7-8 foot deep pool at the bottom. But be ready: it’s cold, y’all!
Music Highlights:
- June 21st opens the world-renowned Brevard Music Festival at the Brevard Music Center. A variety of musical genres are offered summer-long, including symphony, opera, chamber, jazz, R&B, bluegrass. Artistic Director and Maestro Keith Lockhart is in charge. Bring chairs and a blanket for a picnic under the stars or claim a seat inside the beautifully intimate concert hall. Highlights include performances by The Temptations and The Four Tops, An Evening with Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, music and movie from “The Raiders of the Lost Ark,” Bela Fleck’s Blue Ridge Banjo Concert, and so many more. For the full performance list and ticket information, go to brevardmusic.org.
- Live music abounds at many breweries and restaurants around town. Check out 185 King Street (www.185kingst.com), Oskar Blues Brewery (www.oskarblues.com), Upcountry Brewery (www.upcountrybrewing.com), the Cradle of Forestry’s Songcatcher Music Series (cradleofforestry.com), and more, to see what’s in store.
Cultural & Community Highlights:
- Old Time Street Dance, every Tuesday evening starting the third Tuesday in June through the first week of August. Music begins at 6:30 p.m., with dancing from 7 – 9 p.m. Free for all ages.
- The Brevard Little Theatre sets the stage this summer for plenty of fun. July 11-14 will feature “Broadway Cabaret,” with songs from Broadway. In August, it’s “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” For more information about tickets and showtimes, go to thebrevardlittletheatre.org.
- Monthly 4th Friday Gallery Walks feature the works of fabulous local artists in galleries and shops downtown, with doors open after normal closing hours. Free.
- Transylvania County Arts Council presents the Fine Arts & Crafts Showcase, a juried art show, July 4th For more information, go to www.tcarts.org.
Summer in Brevard is a season like no other. When your days of fun are done, be sure to take a moment. Walk outside under a clear, star-filled sky. Take a deep breath. Listen to the tree frogs and crickets—to the sweet pluck of a banjo drifting by on the breeze, to the low laughter of friends and family gathered on a nearby porch. This is why we live here.
by Katherine Scott Crawford
May 31, 2019